Inking apparatus.



Patented Dec. l2, I899.

(Application filed Feb. 24, 1899.)

l/weiciai (No Model.)

ERS co.. PMo'ro-ui-H NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. NORTH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, THEO- DORE I-I. MEAD, AND CHARLES W. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

INKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 638,747, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed February 24, 1899. Serial No. 706,653. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern: lines of the design to be printed therefore Be it known that I, THOMAS M. NORTH, a instead of retaining that clearness and sharpsubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireness of outline which is necessary to good land, residing at New York city, county of printing become after continued use some- 5 Kings, and State of New York, have invented what worn and blurred.

certain new and useful Improvements in Ink- It is the object of this invention to coning Apparatus, fully described and represtruct aninking mechanismin whichtheblursented in the following specification and the ring or wearing away of the design by the accompanying drawings, forming a part of lengthwise inovementof the form-rollers shall [O the same. be avoided.

This application relates to certain improve- With this object in view the invention conments in inking apparatus. sists in certain parts,improvements,and coin- In inking apparatus as usually constructed binations, as will be hereinafter described there are provided sets of rollers which run in and then fully pointed out in the claims here- 15 direct contact with the form and the purpose to appended.

of which is to apply ink to the form. These In the accompanying drawings, in which form-rollers receive the ink from the sources like numerals of reference indicate the same of ink-supply in various ways, and there are parts, Figure 1 indicates an end view of a porused in connection with them additional tion of aprinting-machine embodying the in- 20 rolls, which are termed vibrators These vention. Fig. 2 indicates a side view of a vibrators run in contact with and usually portion of the same machine, and Fig. 3 is a ride upon the form-rollers, and they have, in detail illustrating the construction and araddition to their rotating movement-,a lengthrangement of certain cams. wise reciprocating movement or a movement In the machine illustrated in the accompa- 25 in the direction of their axes. The purpose nying drawings, which represents one cmof these vibrators is to thoroughly mix, break bodiment of the invention, 1 indicates a porup, and distribute the ink on the form-rollers, tion of the frame. This frame is provided so that the latter may apply a smooth and with the usual journal-bearings, in which is even coat of ink to the form. The shafts of journaled a shaft 2. The shaft 2 carries a 30 the form-rollers are loosely mounted in their printing-cylinder 3, this cylinder being probearings, so that they may run freely and vided with a form-surface 4 and ink-distribeasily over the form, and in order that the uting surface 5. The printing-cylinder carrollers may run with as little friction as posries a gear 6, which meshes with a pinion '7, sible a slight space is left between the collars this pinion being mounted on a short shaft 8, 35 on the shafts and the bearings. This permits suitably journaled in the frame. The short the form-rollers to shift slightly in a lengthshaft 8 is provided with another pinion 9, wise direction. As the vibrators,which,as has which meshes with a pinion 10 on a powerbeen before said, ride upon the form-rollers, shaft, which is suitably driven from any conare reciprocated over them, therefore they venient source of power. The gearing just 40 will produce a slight lengthwise movement described forms the meansby which the printof these rollers also, although they are ining-cylinder is driven. The cylinder may, tended to have only a rotary movement, and however, be drivenin any manner by any conas the press is used and the shafts wear in venient means, as the cylinder-driving means their bearings the amount of this lengthwise has no relation to the invention. 45 movement increases. It has been found that The inking mechanism may in the main be this lengthwise movement of the form-rollers, of any approved type. In the form selected although it is slight in itself, is sufficient to to illustrate theinvention it consists ofafounrub or wear the printing-surfaces of the form tain 11, from which the ink is transferred by with which the form-rollers run in contact, a ductor-roll 12 to a distributing-cylinder13. 50 this being more particularly true where the The distributing-cylinder 13 has preferably forms are of a planographic character. The the usual distributing-rollers 14 running in ferred from the surface of the distributing cylinder to the form-rollers in any suitable manner. In the machine shown there are provided transferring-rollers and 16, which are mounted in suitable brackets and which run in contact with the distributing-roller and with the vibrators 17 and 18. The vibrators 17 and 18 run in contact with form-rollers 19, any suitable number of these rollers being provided. The inking mechanism is preferably provided with certain other vibrators, there being as many of these vibrators as are deemed necessary or desirable. In the machine shown there are two such additional vibrators, which are numbered 21 and 23, the rolls and 22 being the ordinary rider-rolls. The several vibrators are so mounted that their vibratingmovementisintermitted atthe time when the form-rollers with which they are in contact are running over the form; but they continue their vibrating movement when the form-rollers with which they cooperate are not in contact with the form.

Various mechanisms may be employed by which the vibrators are given the movement described. In the machine shown the shaft of each of the vibrators is provided with a collar which is engaged by a cam-actuated lever, the said lever operating to give the vibrator its vibrating movement. These levers may be variously positioned and the cams which operate them operated in any convenient way. In the machine shown the shaft 17 of the vibrator 17 is provided with a collar 24. This collar is engaged by a pin 25 on a rocking lever 26, which extends from a hub 27. The hub 27 is mounted on a shaft 28, which is supported in bearings 29, suitably secured in the frame of the machine. The hub 27 has extending therefrom an arm 30, carrying a pin 31, which engages a cam-groove 32, formed in a cam-block 33, which is mounted on and rot-ates with the shaft 2 of the printing-cylinder. It will be understood that the cam 33 is the means by which the vibrator is given its lengthwise movement. This cam is, however, so formed and timed that during the time when the rolls 19, with which the vibrator cooperates, are in contact with the form-surface there will be no movement of the vibrator in a lengthwise direction. \Vhen, however, the form-surface has passed out from under the form-rollers 19, the cam will cause the vibrator to resume its lengthwise reciprocating movement and will continue it until the form surface again comes in contact with the formrollers. The cam 33 is preferably so formed that the vibrator will be given one complete reciprocation for each revolution of the formcarrying cylinder. The form of the cam may, however, be varied, if desired, so as to give less or more than a complete reciprocation of the vibrator.

The shaft 28 preferably has secured thereon an arm 34, having a pin 35, which engages a cam-groove 36 in a cam-block 37, which is secured on the shaft 2 alongside the cam-block 33. The shaft 28 also, preferably, has secured to it an arm 39, having a pin 40, which engages a groove in a collar 41, mounted on the shaft 23 of the vibrator 23. The cam 37 is constructed and timed in the same manner as the cam 33 and operates to gives the vibrator 23 a movement similar to that of the vibrator 17that is to say, when the form-rollers 19, with which the vibrator 23 cooperates are in contact with the form there is no longitudinal movement given to the vibrator. Then, however, these rollers pass off the form, the vibrator is operated by the cam and is preferably given one complete reciprocation for each rotation of the form-carrying cylinder.

The arrangement for moving the vibrators 18 and 21 is the counterpart of that used for the vibrators 17 and 23. A shaft 42 is mounted in bearings 43, extending from the frame of the machine. On this shaft is mounted a lever 44, which is similar to the lever 26 and which has an extension 45, which carries a pin 46, engaging the cam-groove 47 in a camblock 48, mounted on the shaft 2. The lever 44 is provided with a pin 49, which engages a collar 50 on the shaft 18 of the vibrator 18. The shaft 42 has also mounted on it a lever 51, provided with a pin 52, which engages a collar 53 on the shaft 21 of the vibrator 21. The shaft is rocked by an arm 54, having a pin 55, which engages a cam-groove 56 in a cam-block 57, also carried on the shaft 2.

The form-rollers and vibrators may, if desired, be given their rotary movement by contact with the form and distributing surfaces. Preferably, however, the shaft of the impression-cylinderis provided with a gear 60, which engages with gears 61 on the shafts of the form-rollers, and these gears 61 engage with similar gears 62 on the shaft of the vibrators. It will be understood, of course, that the gears 62 have a face sufficiently wide to permit the longitudinal movement of the vibrators without disengaging them from the gears on the form-rollers.

The specific mechanism herein shown for operating the vibrators and for producing the dwell in their longitudinal movement is regarded as a convenient and efficient one for the purpose. It may, however, be Widely varied or other mechanisms which will accomplish the same function may be substituted therefor. The invention is not therefore to be limited to the specific form of mechanism shown in the drawings and heretofore described.

What I claim is 1. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a form, of a roller mounted to have a 1'0- tary movement, and means for giving it an intermittent reciprocating movement in the direction of its axis without varying its distance from the form, substantially as de scribed.

2. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a form, of a group of inking-rollers mounted to have a rotary movement, means for giving one or more of the rollers a lengthwise reciprocation when the rollers are not in contact with the form, the reciprocation being intermitted as the form passes under the rollers, substantially as described.

3. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a group of form-inking rollers, of a vibrator cooperating therewith, and means whereby the vibrator is given an intermittent lengthwise reciprocation with respect to the form-rollers, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a form, of a group of form-rollers, a series of vibrators cooperating with the form-rollers, means for giving each of the vibrators an intermittent lengthwise reciprocation with respect to the formrollers, said movement being intermitted while the rollers with which the vibrators cooperate are in contact with the form, substantially as described.

5. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a form, of an inking-roller mounted to have a rotary movement, a cam, and connections between the cam and the roller, the cam being so formed as to give intermittent lengthwise reciprocations to the roller and the roller being arranged to maintain a constant distance from the form during the reciprocations, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a form, of a series of inking-rollers cooperating therewith,means for giving one of the rollers intermittent lengthwise reciprocations while the rollers are out of contact with the form, said means consisting of a cam moving with the form and suitable connections, the cam being so formed as to cause a dwell in the lengthwise movement of the roller as the form is passing beneath the inking-rollers, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a rotating formcarrier and its form, of a group of inking-rollers cooperating therewith, a cam mounted on and rotating with the form-carrier, and suitable connections between the cam and one of the rollers, whereby it is given an intermittent movement in the direction of its axis while it is out of contact with the form; the cam being formed to cause a dwell in the movement of the roller as the form is passing beneath the inking-rollers, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a rotating fornicarrier, of a group of inking-rollers cooperating therewith, aseries of levers operating to give some of the rollers intermittent lengthwise reciprocations while they are out of contact with the form, said reciprocations being intermitted while the form is passing beneath the rollers, and suitable cams for operating the levers, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a rotating formcarrier, of a group of inking-rollers cooperating therewith, a series of levers operating to give some of the rollers intermittent lengthwise reciprocations while they are out of contact with the form, said reciprocations being intermitted while the form is passing beneath the rollers, and independent cams for operating each of the levers, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a form-carrier, of a group of form-inking rollers, a series of vibrators cooperating with the form-rollers, a series of levers connected to the vibrators, and a series of cams for operating the levers, said cams being formed to intermit the movement of the vibrators while the forms are in contact with the rollers with which the vibrators cooperate, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a rotating formcarrier, of a group of inking-rolls including suitable vibrators cooperating therewith, a shaft located at one end of the carrier, cams on the shaft of the carrier, a lever journaled on the first-named shaft and engaging one of the vibrators at one end and one of the cams at its other end, a lever connected to the firstnamed shaft and engaging one of the vibrators, and means whereby one of the cams is caused to rock the shaft and move the vibrator while the inking-rolls are out of contact with the form, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M. NORTH.

W'itnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. RoEHM. 

